An entertaining, action-packed retelling of Arthurian legend.
A boy in Camelot embarks on a dangerous journey to retrieve a magical weapon in this debut YA fantasy.
Having just arrived in the kingdom of Camelot, where his father has become a blacksmith, 12-year-old Arty is thrilled to see King Uther Pendragon’s knights practicing in the arena. Though not of noble caste, Arty is determined to become a knight one day. He soon makes friends with other boys (as well as Guinevere, or Gwen) who share his ambition; a natural leader, Arty organizes training sessions for his crew and sets up a round table for planning strategy. When a fearsome dragon attacks Camelot, Sir Marcus Junius Brutus proves himself an impressive champion whom Arty hero-worships. Before long, though, Brutus morphs into his true form, the evil wizard Merlin, and claims Camelot’s throne. Breaking the orb on Merlin’s staff can defeat him but can only be done with an ancient magical weapon in an older witch’s keeping. Arty rallies his “small ragtag band of misfit knights” to brave the perilous Forest of the Forsaken on a quest that will test him in three difficult trials and reveal the truth of his birth. In his book, Jauregui pairs his legendary setting with contemporary dialogue (such as “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful, Percy”) and characterization. It’s a technique familiar from animated films like Disney’s Frozen (2013) but less common in novels, possibly jarring some readers. That said, the author deftly weaves traditional and unexpected elements together, as with scenes in the Lady of the Lake’s elaborate underwater palace. Several cinematically vivid, well-orchestrated action sequences also enliven the story, including a joust; attacks by creatures like death phantoms and lizard warriors; and a hammer-and-tongs battle with Merlin.
An entertaining, action-packed retelling of Arthurian legend.Pub Date: Jan. 19, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-73-553068-0
Page Count: 244
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: June 6, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and...
A deliciously creepy page-turning gem from first-time writer and illustrator Brosgol finds brooding teenager Anya trying to escape the past—both her own and the ghost haunting her.
Anya feels out of place at her preppy private school; embarrassed by her Russian heritage, she has worked hard to lose her accent and to look more like everyone else. After a particularly frustrating morning at the bus stop, Anya storms off, only to accidentally fall down a well. Down in the dark hole, she meets Emily, a ghost who claims to be a murder victim trapped down in the dank abyss for 90 years. With Emily’s help, Anya manages to escape, though once free, she learns that Emily has traveled out with her. At first, Emily seems like the perfect friend; however, once her motives become clear, Anya learns that “perfect” may only be an illusion. A moodily atmospheric spectrum of grays washes over the clean, tidy panels, setting a distinct stage before the first words appear. Brosgol’s tight storytelling invokes the chilling feeling of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), though for a decidedly older set.
In addition to the supernatural elements, Brosgol interweaves some savvy insights about the illusion of perfection and outward appearance. (Graphic supernatural fiction. 12 & up)Pub Date: June 7, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-59643-552-0
Page Count: 224
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: April 18, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2011
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in.
Black is back with another dark tale of Faerie, this one set in Faerie and launching a new trilogy.
Jude—broken, rebuilt, fueled by anger and a sense of powerlessness—has never recovered from watching her adoptive Faerie father murder her parents. Human Jude (whose brown hair curls and whose skin color is never described) both hates and loves Madoc, whose murderous nature is true to his Faerie self and who in his way loves her. Brought up among the Gentry, Jude has never felt at ease, but after a decade, Faerie has become her home despite the constant peril. Black’s latest looks at nature and nurture and spins a tale of court intrigue, bloodshed, and a truly messed-up relationship that might be the saving of Jude and the titular prince, who, like Jude, has been shaped by the cruelties of others. Fierce and observant Jude is utterly unaware of the currents that swirl around her. She fights, plots, even murders enemies, but she must also navigate her relationship with her complex family (human, Faerie, and mixed). This is a heady blend of Faerie lore, high fantasy, and high school drama, dripping with description that brings the dangerous but tempting world of Faerie to life.
Black is building a complex mythology; now is a great time to tune in. (Fantasy. 14-adult)Pub Date: Jan. 2, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-316-31027-7
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Sept. 25, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
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